Communication Program

Program Overview/Mission

What can you do with a degree in communication? What can't you do? The communication
degree is one of the most flexible degrees because its emphasis on written and graphic
communication is transferable to almost any professional setting. In particular, here
is how the Communication Program at University of Houston-Clear Lake will provide
you with the theory, knowledge, and skills to make you successful.

Treats you as individuals - With class sizes that average 20 students, professors
get to know their students' different backgrounds, skills and goals, and work with
them individually to maximize their personal and professional potential.

Prepares you for today's job market - In the current job market, new graduates are
expected to have more than one skill or knowledge area. Our curriculum includes classes
in integrated marketing communication, media writing, public relations and advertising,
as well as graphic and Web design.

Provides you with professional portfolios - You have the opportunity to develop professional
quality work for a portfolio and assemble that portfolio together for maximum impact.

Work on The Signal, our nationally recognized campus newspaper, which has received
multiple national awards from the Columbia Scholarship Press Association and state
awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.

Prepare complete campaigns In our advertising and public relations classes.

Gives you real-world experience in the field – Internships are available at leading
Houston-area businesses like NASA /Johnson Space Center, Boeing, Houston Chronicle,
Southwest Airlines and the United Way.

Eva "Taleen" Washington

Curriculum and Instruction

Undergraduate DegreeThe undergraduate program in communication will train you for careers in corporate
or public communication. Communication majors are carefully instructed in both written
and visual communication. This curriculum also includes courses in the humanities,
since an ingredient in a successful communication career is a broad exposure to liberal
arts.

You are expected to take a communication internship in your last or next-to-last semester,
typically in either the spring or fall semesters (but not in the summer). Students
seeking exemption from an internship must present their reasons in a written petition
to the communication faculty. The student's final semester will include a 1-credit
hour portfolio review. The portfolio review, conducted by the entire communication
faculty, entails a presentation of the student's best written and graphic work.

The communication degree also provides excellent preparation for graduate programs
in the humanities and professional programs in law or business. Check out UHCL's graduate
program in Digital Media Studies.

Career Opportunities

The Department of Labor/Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections between
now and 2018 show most jobs in the field of communication will increase between 9%–24%.
Some related jobs are up even more. Examples include:

Student Resources

The Signal

UHCL's student newspaper, The Signal, is published seven times a semester by communication
students enrolled in the Newspaper Publication class. It provides news to the campus
community concerning university events and issues.

To view current, past issues and The Signal News Blog, visit The Signal web site. For more information, contact the faculty adviser, Taleen Washington, at 281-283-2572
or Washington@uhcl.edu.

Additional Information

For more information about the Communication program at UHCL, please contact